Nauru, Australian neo-colonialism

 From the richness of phosphate mining to crowded refugee camps

Danilo Anton

The small island of Nauru in the Pacific Ocean has an area of 21 km2 and about 10,000 inhabitants of Polynesian origin. It is one of the smallest independent states in the world. Before 1896 it was a typical island of Oceania, its inhabitants lived by fishing, several crops imported by the ancient seafarers (breadfruit, taro, coconut) and growing pigs and poultry. The island was annexed by the German Empire in the late nineteenth century. After the German defeat in World War I, Nauru became a protectorate of the League of Nations (administered by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom). During World War II, it was occupied by Japanese troops. After the end of the war and the expulsion of the Japanese, Nauru again become an Australian protectorate until it gained independence in 1968.

In the late nineteenth century phosphate deposits were discovered and that transformed the economy of the island. The phosphates were exploited first by Pacific Phosphate Company and later the British Phosphate Commissioners, Millions of tons were mined which degraded 80% of the surface of the island. For Nauruans only remained available five square kilometers of land. In 1968, when phosphates were running low, the island received the "independence" and moved from ephemeral wealth to extreme poverty. The Australian government, with a colonialist conception, took advantage of Nauru situation to set up a concentration camp for refugees and illegal immigrants where there are more than 500 people. This further reduced the availability of space for the people on the small island. The refugee situation is very difficult, prisoners and isolated in the middle of the ocean, depending on the willingness of the Australian authorities, not knowing what their future, waiting for months and years, their fate remains uncertain. For many refugees depression increases, and for some, suicide appears as a definitive solution. Meanwhile Nauru, once rich and wealthy, became one of the less fortunate Pacific islands.